CAF Announces Launch date for CAF Enterprise

[California Republic]

The Launch date for the CAF Enterprise has been announced, foreign observers are invited to watch the launch of the XAB-7 Cavalier carrying the Space Shuttle to an altitude of 72,000 feet and an airspeed of Mach 3 where the shuttle will decouple and engage in a suborbital glid, the shuttle will be recovered by the Airship CAF Lone Star Republic. The craft will complete its highest altitude over South America before being recovered over Antarctica. this will be the first test of the prototype shuttle.

A special invite is sent to Ohio, in light of the recent NORAD negotiations.

[Alanston]

The Qi Empire, while currently spending resources on the restoration of China, and so can't start their own space program, would be glad to send observers, and sends a team of reporters and scientists to observe the launch. The observers take a Tu-144 to California to observe the launch, refueling in Japan and Anchorage along the way.

[Kingdom of Sweden]

Secretly working on their own similar program, a group of engineers from the Confederation board a Curtiss-Wright 2707, accompanied by Vice President Angélique Du Lac and the Chief of Staff of the Armee de l'Air; Général d'armée aérienne Stéphane Mille eager to see how successful the launch is, and perhaps gain some information that could help back home.

[California Republic]

Upon the arrival of foreign observers the participants from the Qi empire and L'Ohio are invited to examine the XAB-7 with the shuttle, and observers are invited, if willing to board the Airship Lone Star Republic which will participate in the recovery of the Shuttle and additionally be present at the point where the shuttle will separate from the launch aircraft. In light of the recent negotiations with Ohio in regards to the NORAD Protocals, a special tour inside the shuttle prior to takeoff is extended to the representatives from Ohio.

[Alanston]

The Chinese reporters would snap photos of the shuttle and XAB-7, whilst the scientists would observe the instruments and the like, taking notes. Both groups would accept the offer to board the airship and to be present at the separation point. The reporters would ask questions about how fast the shuttle will go after being decoupled, how it will be intended to launch once it is complete, how many people it can hold, and when it will be expected to be operational.

[California Republic]

In the press briefing stage of the tour. Questions are answered by the cheif of staff of the Aerospace Forces.

In responce to questions on speed, Cheif of Staff Henry H. Arnold states that the shuttle is expected to accelerate to speeds between Mach 5.5 and 6.5 and altitudes of 100,000 feet during this test flight. With a goal of eventually reaching speeds of Mach 25 in later tests.

In responce to future launch plans, a higher speed and altitude launching aircraft based on the XAB-7 will be devolped after the shuttle is near opperational status, with a planned launch speed of mach 3.5 and altitude of 75,000 feet. The current launch aircraft has insufficient high altitude propulsion characteristics to go beyond mach 3 and 72,000 feet while the shuttle is attached.

In responce to payload, the Shuttle will be expected to have a crew cabin with a capacity of 5, and a payload bay which can either carry a pressurized passenger cabin with a capacity of 9, or up to 25,000 Kg to a position in low earth orbit.

Finally, Arnold states that there is no finite timetable for achieving opperational status and the the program will adapt to meet the realities of the testing environment and the needs of the Aerospace Forces.

[California Republic]

While the launch aircraft and shuttle are being fueled and worked up, a processes that will take two hours minimum, the 342 meter long airship Lone Star Republic comes into view over the horizon, moving at a steady pace towards the runway. The sound of a helicopter grows from a faint whisper to a great thunder as from the same direction of the airship the Presidential transport helicopter approaches and lands on the field.

As the helicopter lands on Moffet Field President Kennedy departs and heads towards the crowd, to deliver a prepared speech.

[Kingdom of Sweden]

The visitors from Ohio are happy to accept a tour of the shuttle. Absorbing as much information about the craft as possible, and asking about questions about its payload capacity, choice in launch system, electronics systems, crew duties, aerodynamics, and others.

[California Republic]

The groups is invited close to the aircraft to see it and ask any questions, before being the area is cleared for flight peeprerations, those willing are then directed into the airship. The group from Ohio is met by several Aerospace Force officers who lead them back through the crowd and onto the flight line, where a latter sits beside the Shuttle, leading into its cabin. The highest ranking of the three, a Major speaks. "We have been authorized to allow you inside for a tour".

[Kingdom of Sweden]

"Thank you Major, thats more than we couldve asked for." General Mille would say appreciatively.
The Engineers from Ohio would pour over the spacecrafts interior as much as possible, comparing it to their own designs.

[California Republic]

During the tour, attention is brought to high resolution imaging devices in the payload bay of the shuttle, which had not been publicly disclosed, information on their specific mission with said equipment, and other relevant details are shared.